Traffic signal



April 15, 1941. F. B. STEWART TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed July. 13, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorneys April l5, 1941. F. a. STEWART 2,238,510

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed July 13, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor A torneys April l5, 1941. F. B. STEWART 2,238,510

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Ath/maus but not shown in the drawings.

" nre-321) Thisinventi'on appertainsto new jilseful improvements in trame of-thefstoptfand v "go"type.` Y r v The principal object of the lpresent invention is to provide ya trafilc signalo! the type-usually employed at intersections which willoperate in such a ymanner as to indicate-to -motoriststhe amount of time they-have left within whichto' make a crossing without likelihood thatthesig-#g nal will changebefore they v hama the intersection.

Another important object l to provide a tramo signal which is of simple construction and not susceptible' to the .ready development of defects.

Other objects and advantages of the invention l will become apparent to the reader ofthe following speciilcation.

In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the tramo signal.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view.

of the intention is merges' with the',

partition 9.

In the, lower portionA of the signal structure is mounted the neon tube transformer2l, which as shown in Figure 8 has the primary circuit'122 and the secondary circuit 213, Rising from they' bottom 2l ofthe frame 6 are the posts 25, each upperend thereof. i e

of which has a sprocket wheel 2 6 mountedatthe Adjacentone gef-,tbe 'posts 2s and ieeezee en the bottom 2 4` is'an electric motor 26which by Way lof the 'belll2'lfd'rivesf thev pulley 2 8 which is Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view' through the lower portion of the signal.

Figure 41s e norimntalsectioem view through y n'ne .fi-t

the upper portion of the signal.

Figure 5 is a section substantiallyjon Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view disclosing the electrical connections between the electrical devices involved. n

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that nu-v l' over the upper and lower .sprocketwheels and -28 are the sprockettchains 39; eachfof which carmeral l represents the post fro'mfwhich rises the framework generally referred lto byfnumeral. 8,` the same being of square cross-section, or 'in :tact

any other required polygonal cross-section, and

. each side has a window openingfl therein inv which the glass pane can be disposed if desired,

Extending into the frame structure each corner post 8' is a 1jshaped partition s. These T-shaped partitions go vtogether to form the outer neon or electric discharge tube vchani- Y be l Il. I2 and I3, andalso' th 'internal chamber-I4. l l v.

In each of these tubef chambers,v I0, .I I, I2 and I3, is mounted the upper circulartubestructure I which merges into the word formation Go' ,one AentiI `of lwhichon eenen with-e wormwnicimstur'ned throughl theagency'of theworm gear'- 2i! drives the shaft 30.' Numeraltl represents a gear box. v Y Numcralsl I2' and represent switches operated' by the shaft" vand asshown in Figure 3 I vone end of the shaft carriesone of thesprocket 'As disclosed in Figures ZandV `4.8.11 annulus 3| has a plurality .ofshafts 35 iournaled `therethrough' andeach is equippedatitsdnner end with a beveled pinion 3B 'meshing with' the large beveledgearjlv i. f'

The outer ends of thejshafts 3 5 carrysprocket wheels each removedvvertically from a corre- 40 ity of plates 4I extendingrigidly outwardlyfrom.

from which spondingv underlying sprocket whee126. Trained ries s. bund, er shutter assemblygenereuy referred-tobynumerallll. A .v

This' bund structure lo yconsists of e :multiplie-l the chain k39,'but not connectedeach to another.

The upperportionsof theseplates I I overlap' the ,Y lower'portions ofjove'rlyingv plates so Athat there is lno likelihood of light .through these blind plates. Obviously as the plates reach a f .sprocket wheel: 2 8 or Il they simply'fan out as .suggested- `iirFigure 111 so as to transfer from location' over one tube, such as thecoluinn-tube I9,

l tothe column:tube-2t.l

denoted by numeral I6. From this formation |5350 'I'he transformer Asecondary switch '3'3" con-A sists ofthe disk 4 2fof.. insulation which has the twe .epntaet bmshesls'l and u' in wipingv ensagement 'with side; thereof. This side or the` disk 42` hsafs'emllc'lroular extending Contact strip ltag'ainstwhich" eitht'erfonev or the other of the brushes-14H! can-wipe This contact strip i'oi'n'lation, ofv the word ySittipt secondary circuit of the transformer to the various sections thereof.

The primary circuit 22 oi the transformer 2l is broken simultaneously with the switch I3,

the switch I2 consisting o! the disk 48 of insulation and having the peripheral contact band II against which the primary circuit brush Il wipes. The complementary brush is denoted by numeral l2 and wipes either the semi-circular band I3 .or the semi-circular band 54, both oi which are disposed against the same side of the disk Il.

Obviously when the signal is in operation, the blinds Il will gradually move up the column i1 while the Go signal is energized, gradually conoealing the column I1 until only the word Go isleitandthisoperationisrepeatedonthecolumn I I for the Stop signal.

Whilethetoregoingspeciilcationsetsiorththe inventioninspeciilctermaitistobe thatnumerwschangesintheshspasiseand materials may be resorted to without departing iromthespiritandscopeoftheinventionas claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A trame signal comprising a signal formation including illuminated vertically spaced p and go" signals having illuminated arranged in horisontaily spaced relation, means for illuminating said signal formation, an endless belt having a plurality of overlapping blades mounted between said illuminated extensions to progressively cover the said extension, and means synchronously operated to illuminate the signals alternately as an illuminated extension is completely hidden from view. 

